McDonagh 'thrilled' to speak for Lightning on White House visit

WASHINGTON-- Ryan McDonagh stepped to the podium on the White House's South Lawn on Monday and did something he never dreamed was possible.

He addressed the President of the United States.
The Tampa Bay Lightning were at the White House to be honored for winning the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021 and McDonagh, a defenseman and alternate captain who is from St. Paul, Minnesota, was selected to speak on behalf of the players during the ceremony with President Joe Biden.
"I was thrilled," McDonagh said. "They obviously offered it to Steven Stamkos first for this, the team captain, and he felt like an American should be speaking on the team's behalf. So I'm quite thankful for him to have me step up and speak."
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So after President Biden's remarks praising the Lightning for joining the 2016 and 2017 Pittsburgh Penguins as the only teams to win the Stanley Cup in back-to-back seasons this century and owner Jeff Vinik spoke about the excitement of Tampa Bay making its first visit to the White House, it was McDonagh's turn.
"Mr. President, on behalf of all the players, coaches and staff of the Tampa Bay Lightning, we'd like to extend a huge thank you for the invitation and the hospitality here today," McDonagh said to begin his speech. "It's a huge honor to come here to the White House. Like it's been talked about, it's been an incredible two years for everybody down there in Tampa Bay. I'm so proud to be standing up here beside all these guys and everything we've accomplished and also to the guys that couldn't make it here today too. It's been an historic run."
If McDonagh was nervous, the defenseman didn't show it.
"I kind of found out I'd be doing it three, four days ago," McDonagh said. "I knew I wasn't going to have a lot of time up there, but I just tried to keep it short and to the point and just give a little glimpse into the last couple years and what our experience has been like winning championships in different fashions. It's just an honor that we finally made it to the White House here, and it's been a surreal experience for everybody."
That experience included a reception and tour of the East Wing of the White House before the ceremony. After the ceremony, came a surprise visit to the Oval Office with President Biden and a tour of some of the West Wing.
"It's not every day you get to come visit the White House," McDonagh said. "As an American, you can remember watching former presidents speak from the White House in different situations, and so to be able to stand here today and take it all in and see it from the inside, it's unbelievable."

The ceremony ended with Stamkos and defenseman Victor Hedman presenting President Biden, the 46th President of the United States, with a No. 46 Lightning jersey and a silver stick.
"Mr. President, it's an honor to be here," McDonagh said in concluding his speech. "As an American and someone who hails from St. Paul, Minnesota, I never thought I'd be standing out here at the White House next to you. So it's been a surreal experience and something I think all of us will remember for a long time."